Sedat Peker, a convicted gang leader has been given the “most benevolent businessman” award by the Milliyet daily.

Sedat Peker, a convicted gang leader and staunch supporter of Turkey’s autocratic President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has been given the “most benevolent businessman” award by the Milliyet daily.

Peker accepted his award from actress Selda Alkor at the “Milliyet Best of the City” awards ceremony on Wednesday night.

Milliyet, which used to belong to the Doğan Media Group, was sold to the Demirören Group in 2011.

Peker is notorious for his threats against Erdoğan critics and opponents.

In a social media message in January 2017, Peker declared his support for the transition to an executive presidency in Turkey while threatening those who were against holding a referendum to vote on the change in the country’s system of governance.

He vowed to vote “yes” for the changes to the constitution and said, “We will be waiting on the streets for those who take to the streets to prevent the referendum, just as we took to the streets on the night of the July 15 coup attempt.”

Gang leader Peker, who has been convicted of several crimes, had also threatened academics who signed a petition calling for peace in early 2016. Peker had said he wanted to take a shower in the bloodbath of the academics. (turkishminute.com) May 25, 2017